Page:History of India Vol 6.djvu/210

158 THE PORTUGUESE POLICY IN THE EAST After three years' experience he was anxious to resign, " as he saw around him only corruption and dishon- esty." In 1549 a confidential report thus summed up the position: " Each one considers only himself." The Portuguese sovereigns did not see the wealth of Asia thus slip through their fingers without efforts to check the malpractices in the East. At one period, indeed, they attempted to exclude not only their own servants but also the native merchants from any share in the trade. This close system, when strictly enforced, drove the Asiatic ships from the Portuguese harbours. For a time it threatened ruin to the lucrative horse trade of Grpa, which imported the fine breed of the desert in Arab vessels and resold the animals at a great profit to dealers from the inland courts of India. Dur- ing the cold season of 1521-1522, the usual supply of about a thousand horses had dropped to under a hun- dred in the Goa market. " How can your Highness expect the merchants of Ormuz to bring us horses," says a plain-speaking correspondent, " if they cannot trade in supplies or in any other commodity? ' " Your Highness, by wanting to take all to yourself, neverthe- less derives no advantage." While so strict a monopoly kept away the native merchants, it merely shifted the private trade of the Portuguese officials to harbours which were less closely watched. " Your factory at Cochin," adds the same writer, " is always in debt;' the captains of the said vessels that come here making themselves very rich." The native merchants " will lose what pleasure they